Verb Agreement Rules and Examples

Posted under Uncategorized by admin

Verb Agreement Rules and Examples: Enhancing Your Writing Skills

Writing a sentence without properly agreeing on verbs can make it confusing to read. Verb agreement is a crucial aspect of English grammar, and it is essential to understand the rules for effective communication. In this article, we will explore some verb agreement rules and examples to help you improve your writing skills.

Rule 1: Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject and verb must agree in number to form a grammatically correct sentence. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural. Here are some examples:

– He runs every day.

– They run every day.

In the first sentence, the subject “he” is singular, and the verb “runs” agrees with it. In the second sentence, the subject “they” is plural, and the verb “run” agrees with it.

Rule 2: Compound Subject

When there are two or more subjects in a sentence, we use a plural verb. Here are some examples:

– Tom and Jerry play tennis every week.

– The football team practices for three hours every day.

In the first sentence, “Tom and Jerry” are the compound subjects, and the verb “play” is plural. In the second sentence, “the football team” is the compound subject, and the verb “practices” is plural.

Rule 3: Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns like anyone, everyone, somebody, nobody, and each are singular. Hence, they take singular verbs. Examples:

– Somebody knows the answer.

– Each of the students has a different perspective.

In the first sentence, “somebody” is singular, and the verb “knows” agrees with it. In the second sentence, “each” is singular, and the verb “has” agrees with it.

Rule 4: Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things. They can be singular or plural, depending on the context. Examples:

– The jury has reached a verdict. (singular)

– The team are playing well today. (plural)

In the first sentence, “jury” is a collective noun, and the verb “has” is singular. In the second sentence, “team” is also a collective noun, but the verb “are” is plural.

Rule 5: Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Phrases

When there are phrases between the subject and the verb, it is essential to ensure that the verb agrees with the subject and not with the intervening phrases. Examples:

– The quality of the products, as well as the price, is important.

– The director, along with the actors, is present for the rehearsal.

In the first sentence, “quality” is the subject, and the verb “is” agrees with it, even though there is an intervening phrase “as well as the price.” In the second sentence, “director” is the subject, and the verb “is” agrees with it, even though there is an intervening phrase “along with the actors.”

Conclusion

Verb agreement rules are crucial for effective communication. The above examples illustrated some of the most common rules for subject-verb agreement. By following these rules, you can improve your writing skills and make your sentences more clear and concise. Happy writing!